Syd Barrett: a brief biography of the founder of Pink Floyd

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

British musician Syd Barrett is best known as the founder of Pink Floyd. He was the group's main composer in the early years of its existence. After leaving the team, Barrett began to lead a reclusive lifestyle. Until his death, he remained one of the most mysterious and even tragic figures in the history of rock music.

Early years

Syd Barrett was born in Cambridge on January 6, 1946. He was raised in a middle class family. At the age of 16, the teenager became a fan of The Rolling Stones. He even met Mick Jagger. Then Syd Barrett began to try his hand at creativity. He started writing songs and playing bass. Later, the musician finally switched to a regular electric guitar.

In 1965, while in college, Barrett joined The Tea Set. She later changed her name to Pink Floyd. The new sign was designed by Syd Barrett himself. He used a combination of the names of the blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.

The dawn of Pink Floyd's success

At the very beginning of its existence, the Pink Floyd group existed within the framework of the London underground. Guys (Roger Waters, RichardWright and Nick Mason) performed covers of songs by famous blues and rock and roll musicians. Local success on stage allowed Pink Floyd to acquire their own managers. Back then, you couldn't get into the music business without an experienced production team.

In 1967, the young band signed their first contract with the label. That same summer, the debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, was recorded at the famed Abbey Road Studios. The process of making the record was intense. Barret lived in a rented London apartment, which his comrades later described as one of the most monstrous hangouts in the British capital. The musician used drugs, including LSD. Such habits were the norm for the then rock culture, but Barret quickly lost his sense of proportion.

First album released

In the same 1967, the first signs of a mental disorder began to appear, from which Barrett Seed later began to suffer. The biography, creativity and relationships of this man were full of strange features. He had a changeable mood and could instantly change from cheerful fun to deep depression.

Despite the dubious lifestyle of the band and Barrett personally, the debut album was still recorded. The album instantly achieved recognition throughout the rock scene. It became a landmark event in the music industry of that time. Pink Floyd were able to develop their own unique style. It was a mixture of psychedelic, experimental and progressive rock. The lyrics of the songs contained whimsical lyrics about fairy tales, gnomes, scarecrows andbicycles. The album had a tremendous impact on the entire future rock culture, which was then just being formed. Syd Barrett made the biggest contribution to its creation. "Pink Floyd" on the wave of success went on an international tour.

Departure from Pink Floyd

By 1968, Barrett's condition had become even more inadequate. Eyewitnesses later recalled that he could strum one chord on his guitar for the entire concert or not play at all. In interviews, he kept complete silence or did something unexpected. Barrett's inability to tour properly did a lot of harm to the band. At the end of 1967, David Gilmour was invited to the band, who would later become the main composer of Pink Floyd. But in the beginning, he was only Sid's "safety net".

The band soon began writing material for their second album. Then Barret wrote his last composition for Pink Floyd. It was called Jugband Blues and was the closing song on the band's second album, A Saucerful of Secrets. At rehearsals, Barret behaved so strangely that Waters later compared him to a crazy genius, which was probably not far from the truth.

The members of the quintet respected their frontman as a composer who created successful material. But at concerts, Barret became completely useless. He disrupted performances and engaged the public. And so, on April 6, 1968, the band announced that one of the founders of the band had left it.

Later life

Although SidBarret left Pink Floyd, he continued to appear at the group's performances. The former guitarist stood in the front row and stared intently at the newcomer Gilmour, who had taken his place. The latter later described the atmosphere at the time as paranoid. It was only over time that Gilmour finally got used to the group and became an integral part of it.

Barret's antics also stopped. He distanced himself from the public and began to lead a reclusive lifestyle. However, many studios wanted to release the talented material that Syd Barrett wrote. The discography of this artist could bring significant income to the labels. Barrett really tried to start a solo career. In 1970 he recorded two studio albums. The record was produced by David Gilmour. However, after those two sessions, Barret finally retired from the music industry. He did not give concerts or interviews.

Recent years

On June 5, 1975, Barret suddenly came to the studio where members of Pink Floyd were recording their new album, Wish You Were Here. The former frontman has changed beyond recognition. He had grown fat, and his head was shaved bald, and along with his eyebrows. The musicians did not even immediately recognize their former comrade. It was a sad moment, which the band members later recalled many times in interviews and autobiographies.

Barrett continued to live as a recluse until the very end of his life. He did not work, receiving roy alties from previous recordings. The musician suffered from diabetes and stomach ulcers. Barrett died on July 7, 2006 at the age of 60. Cause of his deathbecame pancreatic cancer.